The Mount Mercy men's basketball team lost to Benedictine, 79-65, in a Heart of America Conference game at the Hennessey Recreation Center Saturday afternoon.

The Mustangs trailed by only two points at halftime, 36-34, but the visitors outscored their hosts by 12 points in the second half.

Benedictine dominated the backboards, 39-26, and outscored Mount Mercy 15-7 at the foul line.

Dennis McKinney led the Mustangs with 21 points. Mike Evans scored 14 points and Bailey Basala had 11. Antwain Strong did not play for the  Mustangs.

Adam Kutney led Benedictine with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Mount Mercy fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.Benedictine raised its marks to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the league.

BENEDICTINE (79): Kutney 6 6-6 18, Krus 5 1-1 13, Bristol 2 2-2 7,  O'Connor 4 1-2 13, Nickels 2 2-2 6, Jackson 2 0-0 6, Temme 1 2-2 5,  Thuston 5 1-2 11, Heinen 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 15-17 79.

MOUNT MERCY (65): McKinney 8 2-3 21, Brawner-Henley 2 0-0 4, Evans 7  0-0 14, Villagrana 1 1-2 4, Reischauer 3 1-2 9, Hehmann 0 0-0 0,  Albagami 0 2-2 2, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Kehinde 0 0-0 0, Basala 4 1-2 11.  Totals 25 7-11 65.